Lock



March 22, 1966 T. F. PETERS LOOK Filed March 5, 1964 JI-W H A ORA/EVUnitcd States Patent 3,241,344 LOCK Theodore F. Peters, Utica, Mich,assigncr to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Mar. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 349,680 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-279)This invention relates to looks and more particularly to cylinder typelocks.

As is well-known, the use of a key-operated cylinder look as .anactuator for various vehicle body closure mechanisms, such as a deck lidlatch, is often undesirable in that the requirement of a key, althoughpreventing unauthorized access, often inconveniences those authorizedpersons who require repeated access to the body through the closure.

There have been many proposals for circumventing the need of a key incertain authorized situations, but these are characterized in that theysuggest some independently operated means for actuating the mechanismwith which the cylinder lock actuator is associated. By this invention,however, means are provided in the cylinder lock itself whereby itsnormal key-controlled locking functions may be selectively negatived sothat it may be operated without the use of a key.

In its broader aspects, this invention provides a cylinder look havingtwo independently operable locking agents which cooperate in theirlocked conditions to lock the look, but are selectively and alternatelyoperable to unlock the lock. In its more specific aspects, thisinvention prov-ides a cylinder lock actuator of the type employing atumbler-operated retractable locking member engageable within a blockingnotch or recess of a surrounding casing, wherein a movable member formsthe blocking portion of the recess, this member being selectivelymovable out of blocking relation with the locking member so that thecylinder may be moved relative to the casing independently of keyretraction of the locking member.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedcylinder lock. Another object of this invention is to provide akey-operated cylinder lock having selectively operated alternate keylessunlocking means. A further object of this invention is to provide acylinder lock having a first key-operated locking member movablerelative to the cylinder into iblocking relation with a second movablelocking member of the surrounding casing to lock the lock, whereby thelock may be unlocked by selectively moving either locking member out ofblocking relation with the other locking member. Still another object ofthis invention is to provide remotely controlled power-operated meansfor selectively moving the second locking member, and circuit meansdependent on the existence of some authorized condition in theenvironment of the lock in order to energize the poweroperated means.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a cylinder lock actuator according tothis invention including a schematic representation of control circuitmeans therefor; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partially broken away sectional view takengenerally along the line Z2, of FIG- URE 1.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a cylinder lockactuator according to this invention and designated generally as ismounted on a vehicle or other body 12 and generally includes a key plugor cylinder 14 rotatably mounted in a casing 16 supported 3,241,344Patented Mar. 22, 1966 on the body by a securing member 15. Cylinder 14is provided with a finger-gripping portion 17, and an actuator member 18is nonrotatably secured to the cylinder and is adapted to be connectedto a mechanism, such as -a vehicle body deck lid latch, for actuationthereof upon rotation of cylinder 14 within casing 16. A retractableside bar or looking member 20 is provided in conjunction with tumblermeans, not shown, operable upon insertion in the cylinder of a properlybitted key 22. Side bar 20 is movable by the key between an extendedlocked position, as shown, within a notch or recess 24 of casing 16 anda retracted unlocked position out of the notch to selectively lock orunlock cylinder 14 against rotation within the casing. Theabove-described structure is conventional and further descriptionthereof will not he made but reference may be had to Patent No.2,040,762 issued August 23, 1960, to T. H. Johnstone for particulardescript-ion of a retracting side bar type cylinder lock.

As shown best in FIGURE 2, the side bar recess 24 extendscircumferentially over approximately 240 of the bore of casing 16 and isof a depth sufficient to receive side bar 20 in the extended positionthereof. The side bar 20 is engageable in either the extended orretracted position thereof with a radial wall 2 6 of the casing tolocate the cylinder in normal or nonactuating position, and is similarlyengageable with a second radial wall 28 upon clockwise rotation of thecylinder to a fully actuating position thereof.

Member and casing 16 are suitably bored at 29 so as to slidably receive-a movable locking or blocking member 30 comprising a blocking headportion 32 and a shaft 34. Head 32 is provided with a blocking shoulder36 which presents a generally radial abutting surface engageable by theextended side bar upon limited rotation of the cylinder, indicated inbroken lines, from its nonactuating position. The cylinder is thuslocked or ooked against full or unlimited actuating rotation thereof,and in order to unlock, the key 2 2 must be used to withdraw side bar tounlocked position.

A miniature solenoid 38 is secured by screws to casing 116 andoperatiyely associated with shaft 34 so that the shaft provides anarmature operable when the solenoid is energized to move memberoutwardly to an unlocked position out of blocking relation with theextended side bar 20. A coil compression spring 40 seats between a wallof the solenoid and a shoulder 44 of member 30 to bias the member intoits looking or blocking position.

Thus, in operation, it will readily be seen that cylinder 14 may beunlocked for actuating rotation thereof either flay use of key 22 toretract side bar 20 so that it will clear the extended member 30, or byretracting member 30 from locking position so that the side bar willclear shoulder 36 upon manual rotation of the cylinder even though theside bar is still extended.

It will be apparent that many types of control circuits may be providedto selectively energize solenoid 38, but in accordance with an object ofthe invention, it is desired that a circuit be provided which willrender the solenoid operable only during the existence of someauthorized condition, as for example, when the lock is used in a vehiclebody, the presence of the key in the vehicle ignition cylinder lock. Tothis end, solenoid 38 is connected by a conductor 46 to a switch 48associated with an ignition cylinder lock 50 of the inwardly withdrawingside bar type. The casing of lock 50 is connected to ground and amovable contact 52 bearing a conductive nose 54 is normally held out ofengagement with the casing by an extension 56 of the conventional sidelocking bar of the cylinder. Closing of switch 48 to ground is effectedby the Withdrawal of the side bar upon insertion of the ignition key.Solenoid 38 is further connected. by a conductor 60 to a switch 58mounted on a lower extension of member 15, and the switch is connectedto a grounded battery 62 by a conductor 64. Switch 58 employs a leafspring contact 66 deflectable into engagement with the other contact ofthe switch upon engagement with contact 66 by a radial ear 68 of theactuator member 18. Such engagement occurs during initial rotation ofcylinder 14 toward engagement with shoulder 36 of the extended member 30so that switch 58 is closed. and the solenoid energized prior to suchengagement. The member 30 is thus withdrawn and unlimited actuatingrotation of cylinder 14 is permitted.

Thus a new and improved lock is provided.

I claim:

1. A lock of the character described, comprising, a casing, a plugmovably mounted in said casing, first locking means associated. withsaid plug and movable between locking and unlocking positions, andsecond locking means associated with said casing and movable betweenlocking and unlocking positions, said first and second locking meanscooperating directly in the locking posi tions thereof to preventrelative movement between said casing and said plug and beingindependently movable from locking position to permit relative movementbetween said casing and said plug.

2. A lock of the character described, comprising, a casing, a plugmovably mounted in said casing, a locking member movable relative tosaid plug between locking and unlocking positions, blocking meansmounted on said casing for movement relative thereto into and out ofblocking relation with said locking member in the locking positionthereof to prevent movement of said plug relative to said casing, meansfor selectively moving said locking member from locking to unlockingposition to permit movement of said plug relative to said casing, andmeans for selectively moving said blocking means out of said blockingrelation to permit movement of said cylinder relative to said casingindependently of movement of said. locking member from the lockingposition thereof.

3. A cylinder lock assembly comprising, in combination, a casing, a lockcylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, a locking member movablerelative to said cylinder between locking and unlocking positions,blocking shoulder means mounted on said casing and movable relativethereto between operative and inoperative positions, said shoulder meansin the operative position thereof being located in blocking relationwith said locking member in the locking position thereof to preventrotation of said cylinder relative to said casing, key-operated meansfor selectively moving said locking member from the locking to theunlocking position thereof to permit rotation of said cylinder relativeto said casing, poweroperated means for moving said shoulder means fromthe operative to the inoperative position thereof to permit rotation ofsaid cylinder relative to said casing independently of movement of saidlocking member from the locking position thereof, and circuit meansincluding remote control means for selectively energizing saidpower-operated means.

4. A cylinder lock actuator assembly comprising, in combination, acasing, a lock cylinder mounted in said casing for rotation betweennonactuating and actuating positions, a locking member movable relativeto said cylinder between locking and unlocking positions, a blockingmember mounted on said casing for movement relative thereto betweenoperative and inoperative positions, said blocking member in theoperative position thereof being located in blocking relaiton with saidlocking member in the locking position thereof to prevent unlimitedrotation of said cylinder between said positions thereof, key-operatedmeans for selectively moving said locking member from the locking to theunlocking position thereof to permit unlimited rotation of said cylinderbetween said positions thereof, power-operated means for mov ing saidblocking member from the operative to the inoperative position thereofto permit unlimited rotation of said cylinder between said positionsthereof independently of movement of said locking member from thelocking position thereof, and circuit means for selectively energizingsaid power-operated means and including a source of power and switchmeans, said switch means being adapted to be closed upon initiallimited. rotation of said cylinder from said nonactuating positionthereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,334,292 3/1920Cox --364 2,013,730 9/1935 Jacobi 70-4l9 2,585,643 2/1952 Feldmann 70364JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

1. A LOCK OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING, A CASING, A PLUGMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CAUSING, FIRST LOCKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITHSAID PLUG AND MOVABLE BETWEEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS, ANDSECOND LOCKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CASING AND MOVABLE BETWEENLOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND LOCKING MEANSCOOPERATING DIRECTLY IN THE LOCKING POSITIONS THEREOF TO PREVENTRELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID PLUG AND BEINGINDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE FROM LOCKING POSITION TO PERMIT RELATIVE MOVEMENTBETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID PLUG.